Branna (McCarty) Shores

What’s black and blue and hurts all over? Well, that would be my face, neck, shoulder and left wrist! It may be spring break, but my trip wasn’t to the Bahamas. It was to the ER. Yes, late Saturday night, I became a statistic. Falls are a leading cause of injury-related death and hospitalization, particularly among…

Buckle up and prepare to be boggled! I have a curious collection of beguiling books gathered throughout my many thrifting expeditions. Recently I came across my hardy hardcover – National Geographic’s 5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) I brushed off the dust and dug into some delightful data, tons of tidbits, wacky wonders and so much more. Want to…

Branna’s Profound Platform for Purposefulness At age 65, Colonel Harland Sanders established the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise and Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing the “Little House on the Prairie” series. Grandma Moses didn’t earnestly aspire to her artistry until her mid-70s. Today, ardent aging adults are achieving goals and pursuing passions like never before. I…

More than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aging family member during any given year. Whoever said that family matters must stay out of the workplace has never been a caregiving family member. So just who are these folks who are juggling responsibilities in the workplace as well as their…

A brain as wild as a March hare and marching to the beat of a different drum … well, enough about me! Let’s talk about the month of March’s myriad of milestones! The noun “march” means “a steady, rhythmic walk.”  The verb “march” has one walking with regular, measured steps. The month of March is…

What comes to mind when you think of the words finishing school?! The final bell at the end of the school day? Secondary education or post-graduate studies? Do you even think about it at all? I know I sure didn’t as a young teen until my mom handed me the huge, hardbound Bible of best…

We’ve got spirit, yes we do! We’ve got spirit, how ’bout you?  This week marks National Public Schools Week 2026, celebrating the achievements of public schools, educators and staff.  Led by the Learning First Alliance, this annual initiative aims to showcase what’s happening in our public schools, their current  challenges, solutions and the ongoing improvement…

Think back to age 10. What did you fathom as the fate of your future? Had a notion to be a nurse, a tendency toward teaching or aspirations as an astronaut?  For me, I dreamed of becoming the next Dorothy Hamill. Every weekend, I strapped on the best Christmas gift ever – a pair of real leather…

Who does Hallmark have to thank for the 145 million cards exchanged each year on one singly delegated date? The victory goes to Valentine’s Day!   A major day for chocolate and roses, this holiday’s origins once blended Roman festivals and Christian martyrs with romantic associations.  Over time, it evolved through medieval traditions and commercialization into…

“I’m just going to “run this one up the flag pole,” in hopes I don’t come across as “not playing with a full deck.” However, I am going to “kick up my heels” and “go the whole nine yards” because that’s me… always having “a bee in my bonnet!” If you are a word nerd like me,…